The number of sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnosed by doctors rose across the board last year, with chlamydia now the most common infection and a huge rise in syphilis cases across the country fuelled by outbreaks in the gay community.
New figures from the government's public health laboratory service (PHLS) show that the number of chlamydia infections seen in genitourinary medicine clinics rose by around 10% for both men and women in 2001.
The Department of Health claims that the increase in diagnosed cases is partly due to improved awareness of the infection and more testing.
A total of more than 71,000 new cases of the infection were recorded across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2001. There were more modest increases in other infections, with new cases of gonorrhoea rising by 8% for men and 6% for women and smaller increases for genital warts and herpes.
But the PHLS found "particularly worrying" increases in STIs among gay and bisexual men, a group where chlamydia infections rose by 40% due to "increasing high risk sexual behaviours". Many gay men are reporting a higher number of partners and more unsafe sex than before, the laboratory service says.
The PHLS points to a particularly worrying hike in syphilis cases, which rose by 180% among gay and bisexual men in England and Wales, an increase that was largely driven by outbreaks in London and the north-west.
Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of the sexually transmitted infection section at the PHLS, added: "These figures are however not all bad news. Increased awareness of STIs and more case-finding are two factors that have led to chlamydia becoming the most commonly diagnosed STI. Obviously if more people are being diagnosed, then more can receive treatment and therefore prevent further spread of what can often be a 'silent' infection."
Syphilis cases also rose dramatically across the whole population, with an overall rise of 144% between 2000 and 2001. The number of cases, however, remains small in comparison to other infections - only 614 men and 102 women were diagnosed with new infections last year.
The new PHLS data was released on the same day as the government announced the first phase of a national screening programme for chlamydia.
Thousands of women will be offered testing for the bacterial infection at 10 selected locations following two successful pilot schemes in Portsmouth and the Wirral.
These showed that 75% of those offered screening for chlamydia accepted and one in 10 was found to have the infection.
Chlamydia frequently remains undiagnosed because it can cause no obvious symptoms. It is easily cured with antibiotics, but if left untreated can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
Public health minister Hazel Blears said: "We are committed to tackling the rising rates of all sexually transmitted infections and today's announcement is an important step in the right direction."
The 10 locations chosen to offer chlamydia screening are: West Hull primary care trust; the Wirral chlamydia office; Camden primary care trust; York health services NHS trust; Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham primary care trusts; Portsmouth city primary care trust; Leeds NHS primary care trust; Nottingham city primary care trust; Royal Cornwall NHS trust and Southend on Sea primary care trust.
